Barcelona star Raphinha praises'spectacular' Vinicius Jr

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[{"selector":"#anim-74b47e6d-2724-435a-9fa3-a24e383c9244 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Raphinha, a Barcelona player, has defended Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid, adding that his compatriot is a'spectacular' person.

Vinicius has received racist insults in Spain on multiple occasions throughout his stint with Real Madrid.

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Things intensified in May 2023 following Los Blancos' match against Valencia, prompting Spanish law police to make arrests to set an example.

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Raphinha, Vinicius' club opponent and compatriot, has now defended him, calling him a'spectacular person'.

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Raphinha did, however, concede that his Brazil teammate frequently performs 'unnecessary' things during games.

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Speaking to RAC1, the Blaugrana winger said: "The Vinicius of the matches is completely different from the Vinicius in person."

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When you get hold of him outside of football, you realise that they are completely different people.

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"This is normal in football, there are many players like that. I try to explain to everyone that Vinicius is not a bad person"

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"He's younger than me, but when I got to the national team he was already there and he helped me a lot."

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He added: "We get along very well and I also often talk to him and tell him that it is not necessary to do the things he does on the pitch"

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